Method for supplying connector sheets to groups of filter plugs and cigarettes



1963 w. RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,099,989

METHOD FOR SUPPLYING CONNECTOR SHEETS TO GROUPS OF FILTER PLUGS AND CIGARETTES Filed D60. 14, 1960 United States Patent 3,099,989 METHOD FOR SUPPLYING CONNECTOR SHEETS T0 GROUPS OF FILTER PLUGS AND CIGARETTES Willy Rudszinat, Hamhurg-Lohbrugge, and Herbert Berlin, Hamburg, Germany, assignors to Hauni-Werke Korber & Co., K.G., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Dec. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 75,772 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 2, 1969 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) The present invention relates to filter tip cigarette making machines and is directed particularly to a method for producing and handling the connector sheets which are used to unite the filter bodies with the cigarettes. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an improvement in an arrangement for the removal of con nector sheets severed from an adhesive coated strip of connector material from a drum on which the connector siheets are produced and supplied to a point where they are transferred to cigarettes, filter cigarillos, filter rods, recess filter rods, and other like articles.

In supplying such connector sheets it is known to hold them on a conveyor device in such a manner that suction is exerted on the connector sheets up to the point where they are transferred to axially aligned filter and cigarette groups which are positioned transversely to the direction of travel, and are then released to be adhesively connected to said groups.

During the operation of such a machine, especially when starting such a machine, it may happen that certain groups of articles to be joined by such a connector sheet are missing. The connector sheet intended for the missing group is, however, nevertheless fed into the path of movement of the group and thus travels without proper constraint through the machine. Since the connector sheets are adhesive coated, the moving par-ts of the machine are soiled by the adhesive and, as a result, disturbances occur which make it necessary to stop and clean the machine.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages in that the absence of a filter-cigarette group at the point where a connector sheet is to be applied, the connector sheet is again subjected to suction after having been moved past the transfer point. Then the connector sheet is moved out of the path of the group and can be discharged without soiling the machine or otherwise disturbing the operation of the machine.

In carrying the invention into effect a suction conveyor provided for feeding the connector sheets is provided with one or more suction chambers arranged so that the suction is operative on the outer surface of the suction conveyor on both sides of the transfer point and is inoperative in the region of the transfer point. In order to ensure interruption of the suction in the region of the transfer point, it is advantageous to provide a separate chamber in the suction conveyor beneath the transfer point, which is in communication with the atmosphere or with a higher pressure. A scraper is provided near the end of the suction chamber as described for example in the German patent specification No. 956,208. This scraper engages the surface of the suction conveyor to remove the connector sheet which has been carried on the conveyor. In the known construction, however, the entire gumrning mechanism is moved out of the way so that all the connector sheets are rejected. The purpose of the known device is for checking and starting the gumming mechanism as well as for preventing the feeding of connector sheets when cigarettes or filters only are fed through the machine, for checking the operation of the machine parts concerned.

The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of ex- 3,099,989 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 'ice ample one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a side elevation view of the connector sheet producingand transfendrum of a filter-cigarette making machine, and the FIGS. 2 and 3 show each the transfer point between the two drums as shown in FIG 1 and illustrate different positions of the connector sheets.

Referring to FIG. 1, a clockwise rotating connector sheet producing and supply drum 1 cooperates with a counterclockwise rotating cutting drum 2 which severs individual connector sheets 15 from a strip 10* while on the circumference of the drum 1. The connector sheets 15 are caused by suction, which is applied to a stationary suction chamber 9' within the drum 1, to adhere to the circumference of the latter. The circumference wall of the drum is provided with perforations which transmit the suction to the sheets 15. A counterclockwise rotating transfer drum 3 is arranged above the connector sheet supplying drum 1. The drum 3' is provided on its circumference with axially extending grooves 4 for holding therein groups of axially aligned filters and cigarettes 5 which are to be united by the connector sheets 15. Suetion ducts 6 lead from the bottoms of the grooves 4 to a source of suction so that the cigarette-filter groups 5 are retained in the grooves 4 when the drumrotates and when the groups are connected with each other by a connector sheet 15. Curved guide rails 7 and 8 are arranged concentrically about the transfer drum 3 so that the groups 5 are additionally supported and do not drop from the grooves 4.

According to the invention, the arc-shaped suction chamber 9 extends along the inner wall of the drum 1 and starts at the point A where the strip 10 first engages the drum 1. It extends a short distance beyond the highest point of the drum or the transfer point U and terminates at the point where the edge of a scraper 12 engages the drum 1. A container 13 is arranged at the outer end of the scraper 12. Below the transfer point U is arranged a separate chamber 14 which is subjected to atmospheric pressure and is in contact with the inner wall of the supply drum 1 to supply only those perforations with atmospheric air which move into the region of the transfer point 1 The operation of the apparatus is substantially as folows:

After individual connector sheets 15 have been severed from the continuously supplied connector strip 10 on the drum 1 by means of the knives Zn on the rotating cutting drum 2, each one of the sheets is retained by suction on the peripheral surface of the drum 1 up to the transfer point U. Assuming that :a filter-cigarette group 5 is present in the groove 4 which moves into the transfer region, the next connector sheet 15 reaching this region, owing to its adhesively coated surface, is attached to the group 5 and is carried forward by the drum 3. If, however, there is no filter-cigarette group 5 present in the groove 4- moving toward the transfer point U as shown in FIG. 2, then the connector sheet 15 remains on the periphery of the drum 1, and the leading end 16 of the connector sheet '15 is moved under the guide rail 8 and is, in fact, caused to adhere by suction on the drum 1, as shown in FIG. 3. Finally, however, the connector sheet '15 is removed from the drum 1 by the scraper 12, as shown in FIG. 1, and is discharged into the container 13. The connector sheet 15 shown in full lines in FIG. 1 at the right hand side of the transfer point U would have been attached to a group 5 if such group had been present in the groove 4 which has reached the position B. Since, however, this groove 4 is empty the connector sheet 15 intended for a filter-cigarette group 5 has been discharged into the container 13.

What We claim is:

1. A method for handling gummed connector sheets employed for uniting transversely moving groups of axialiy-ali'gned rod-like articles, such as cigarettes and filter plugs, including the steps of feeding the connector sheets by means of a suction conveyor to a transfer point where they meet said groups moving in a circuitous path, reducing the suction action at said transfer point for facilitating an adherence of said gurnmed connector sheets to said groups so that said gummed connector sheets continue to move with said groups in said circuitous path, and subjeoting those connector sheets which fail to meet a group of axially aligned articles at said transfer point, owing to the absence of said "group, to an increased suction action immediately beyond said transfer point so that said last named connector sheets remain temporarily on said conveyor and then are removed from the same.

2. A method for handling gummed connector sheet employed for uniting transversely moving groups of axially aligned rod-like articles, such as cigarettes and filter plugs, including the steps of feeding the connector sheets by means of a suction conveyor to a point where they are transferred to said groups while the latter continue to move along their path, reducing the suction action on said connector sheets at said point of transfer for facilitating an adherence of said gummed connector sheets to said groups so that said 'gummed connector sheets continue to move with said groups along the path of the latter, and subjecting those connector sheets which fail to meet a group of axially aligned articles at said transfer point, owing to the absence of said group, to an increased suction action immediately beyond said transfer point so that said last named connector sheets remain temporarily on said conveyor and then are removed from the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,424 Edwards June 13, 1-939 2,188,998 Edwards Feb. 6, 1940 2,808,059 Stelzer Oct. 1, 1957 2,809,640 Oldenkamp Oct. 15, 1957 2,821,199 Korber Jan. 28, 1958 2,830,595 Korber Apr. 15, 1958 2,866,464 tone Dec. 30, 1958 2,902,040 Korber et al Sept. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 782,415 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1957 

1. A METHOD FOR HANDLING GUMMED CONNECTOR SHEETS EMPLOYED FOR UNITING TRANSVERSELY MOVING GROUPS OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-LIKE ARTICLES, SUCH AS CIGARETTES AND FILTER PLUGS, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF FEEDING THE CONNECTOR SHEETS BY MEANS OF A SUCTION CONVEYOR TO A TRANSFER POINT WHERE THEY MEET SAID GROUPS MOVING IN A CIRCUITOUS PATH, REDUCING THE SUCTION ACTION AT SAID TRANSFER POINT FOR FACILITATING AN ADHERENCE OF SAID GUMMED CONNECTOR SHEETS TO SAID GROUPS SO THAT SAID GUMMED CONNECTOR SHEETS CONTINUE TO MOVE WITH SAID GROUPS IN SAID CIRCUITOUS PATH, AND SUBJECTING THOSE CONNECTOR SHEETS WHICH FAIL TO MEET A GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ARTICLES AT SAID TRANSFER POINT, OWING TO THE ABSENCE OF SAID GROUP, TO AN INCREASED SUCTION ACTION IMMEDIATELY BEYOND SAID TRANSFER POINT SO THAT SAID LAST NAMED CONNECTOR SHEETS REMAIN TEMPORARILY ON SAID CONVEYOR AND THEN ARE REMOVED FROM THE SAME. 